In the Tube station, knew where we wanted to go, although it seemed that we really didn't.
"Are you sure this is the right one?" Sharon asked as we boarded the supposedly right train. To which Evan and I replied in unison with "Yeah!"
Well...as it turned out we ended up at Kensington! the exact opposite direction on where we wanted to go. Both Evan and I received a bit of a dark look from Sharon, that was okay because there was another train coming in 6 minutes. "Longer than we have had to wait before," Evan remarked as we were standing on the platform for the RIGHT train.
Finally we were on our way.
THE MONUMENT - THE STEPS TO HELL!!!!
We arrived at The Monument. I tried to read the writing on the side as we made our way around to the entrance. Turns out it was in Latin. Now wonder I couldn't read it!
We walked into the entrance and handed over our tickets, Evan and I with our passes from the Tower Bridge and Sharon had to hand over £3. Really shouldn't be worth that. Should be worth the sweat that was pouring off us at the end.
The first clue to the fact that this was going to be the worst stairs I have ever ascended was how steep it looked even at the base.
Then we started walking, up and up and up and up!!! "Bloody Hell!!" was exclaimed more than once.
With shaking legs and gulping breaths we FINALLY made it up to the top! Only to find that the most city was covered in fog. That was okay, it really was a good view any way.
After our breaths were caught and a few photo's were taken, we descended and received a certificate for all our efforts. Really nice paper but a bit insubstantial for the work upwards 202 feet and 311 stairs.
One interesting note - the tower is 202 feet high and was built 202 feet from the location of where the great fire started in a bakers shop on Pudding Lane.
From there we decided we might head to Oxford Street for a bit of shopping before maybe making to the British Museum. Evan gave Sharon and I the choice of walking there or taking the Tube. "It is a bit of a distance," I think his wording was, and he pointed to the street on the map. Sharon and I looked at each other and shrugged.
Walking it was.
We ended up trekking across London. From The Monument and across to St Paul's Cathedral. Sharon mentioned that Evan had a large pretzel the last time they went by. Evan was all aboard for another pretzel. We headed in the general direction and walked through a lovely little alley way with shops and sparkly things.
St Paul's Cathedral was right there, utterly amazing, I was thoroughly impressed. A few photos for me and Evan took one of Sharon and I playing in the fallen orange leaves. Hope that it turned out okay.
Then we set off to get that pretzel. Not there.
Although, there is a lovely little café outside of the Cathedral, ironically called, Pauls.
Had lunch/morning tea there in front of the cathedral with proper hot chocolate and coffee. Great!
Definitely going back there on our second week, so that Jason will be able to come with us.
Next stop, more walking towards Oxford Street. Map Boy pointed in the general direction and off we went. We made it up to a red bridge and we weren't sure if it was were we wanted to go. Consulted the map again and Map Boy and I decided that we weren't there yet. We continued walking for another 10-15 minutes up that street and consulted the map again. TOO FAR!
Map Boy now officially has to redeem himself. (Notice I am not included, as it is my first visit)
So we backtracked, sort of in a diagonal direction and finally we hit New Oxford Street. The place we wanted to be. By this time it was just before 1pm. There on the street it was decided that the British Museum can wait for Friday when we have couple of hours to kill before heading off to Paris.
OXFORD STREET.
Evan being the great shopper that he is didn't want to come with Sharon and I. So we left him at the closet pub that we could find. Turned out to be not even 10 metres from where we were standing.
Off Sharon and I went - with Evan's card I might add.
Sharon saw this beautiful jacket in Debenhams yesterday and she just had to show me. We slowly made it up the street and in we went.
The jacket was absolutely lovely although very pricy, then we wandered and I found another jacket for a bargain £99. In my defence it is really nice.
After Debenhams, we headed up to Selfridge's. One word for Selfridge's, EXTRAVAGANT.
Loved the shop, but way way out of the price range. We headed down stairs to have a look at Cath Kidson shop and we were out of there. With both of us lagging in energy we headed straight for the Tube.
WINTER WONDERLAND
A few short hours back at the hotel/apartment and one of Sharon's Facebook friend's Peter came for a visit. The plan was to head for the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. Only thing was we had to wait for Jason. Who mentioned earlier that he was trying to start work earlier so he can finish earlier. No such luck.
So while Peter and Sharon were catching up, and Evan sitting back and listening in, here I was being completely unsocial and tapping away at the keyboard to bring you this lovely spiel.
Jason finally decided to grace us with his presence around 5.30ish and off we went to this Winter Wonderland.
My only carnival/show experience is only the Perth Royal Show. I have always thought that it was pretty good. Ha, scratch that, this show in Hyde Park absolutely tramples all over the PRS. WW is awesome! We walked and walked and walked, past all of these different booths which were all themed in the traditional German wood stalls. Walked past beer stalls, sausage stalls, some nick nacks, more beer stalls and wait.....you got it, more sausage stalls!! Oh can't forget the rides! Bit of a mish mash of rides, Ferris Wheel, a Giant Drop (Although this one was faster and a lot better looking than the one in Adventure World), this really tall swing think that I still think looks like an octopus, carousels, kiddie rides and more! Lights and Christmas trees galore and live entertainment. For a Tuesday night/working day/non-school holiday there was a descent amount of people.
But wait you haven't heard the best thing....I went to get some money out of the atm and - I know, I know, you don't get money out at these things - anyway, they freaking well charged me £2.95 (roughly $6 not even including the conversion cost!) to draw out money! Learnt my lesson now.
Then we walked further along and further along, wouldn't have thought this place could be so big! We reached this obstacle course ride/thing. Jason and I have stopped, looked at each other and smiled, "Lets do it." So off we went, only to get knocked back saying, "You need tokens."
"Okay," we turned around and looked for a token booth. Ha, right there. How convenient. We got our tokens from this guy in the booth that looked more interested in the other customers chatting than the PAYING customers.
We get on this ride and looked better from the outside, it had cool little bits all the way up three floors. Then as we made it back down, I was just saying to Jason how disappointed I was at the lack of stuff, and this guy appears and point us in the direction of this side room. He scurries off with a muttered "Stay here." This room then is a continuation of the ride complete with voice overlay, moving floors and plastic dolls. Pretty quirky and we were moved through a different series of rooms; First an Alpine Bar; then an elevator that supposedly takes you up a couple of for and shakes all the way back down; then a cellar were the floor rises and the ceiling falls in and the last room rails that half tip and the walls that spin all the way around. Trippy!
Anyway, we get off that and head out with big grins on our faces. And that was the end of our little adventure, and we were off back to the apartments. Said good by to Jason at the Hyde Park Square Station and to Peter at Earl's Court.
All in all the day was busy, exhausting and an utterly good time.
Goodnight!!
Katie xxx
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